Posted on 07/16/2005 2:59:48 AM PDT by Clive
OTTAWA (CP) - If Canadians were shocked that the head of their military called his enemy "detestable murderers and scumbags," they better get used to it. Gen. Rick Hillier has never minced words, nor is he likely to start any time soon.
His blunt assessment of terrorists in Afghanistan and elsewhere this week has the wholehearted backing of the prime minister.
"General Hillier is not only a top soldier, he is a soldier who has served in Afghanistan," Paul Martin said Friday in Nova Scotia.
"The point he is simply making is we are at war with terrorism and we're not going to let them win."
Defence Minister Bill Graham's office refused Friday to soften or explain the comments of its top soldier.
No "clarification" will be forthcoming, said spokesman Steven Jurgutis.
"I can certainly understand that there may be people who are concerned with the tone of his statements," said Jurgutis.
But he said Hillier "has certainly been a fairly straight-talking individual throughout his career.
"I wouldn't say this represents a change in attitude."
Defence analysts and soldiers alike lauded Hillier's appointment as chief of defence staff earlier this year as a fundamental shift in the Canadian military.
Known as a soldier's soldier, Hillier is the most operationally experienced commander to take the top post in many years, breaking the bureaucratic mould that seemed to dictate many appointments since the Cold War.
Born in the outport of Campbellton on Newfoundland's north coast, Hillier doesn't attempt to cover a Scottish-Irish lilt that turns "Afghanistan" into "haffghanistan" and "horse" into "orse."
One factor in Hillier's promotion was his fearlessness and penchant for calling things as he sees them.
The defence minister was looking for a new vision for the Canadian Forces and, in Hillier, he got it.
A defence policy statement released in April charted a whole new course for defence - much of it adhering to Hillier's direction.
His current list of requests for interviews is at about 50, so this week the general with the reddish-blond moustache held an informal, on-the-record media luncheon. Audiotapes were OK, cameras were banned.
Reporters familiar with Hillier's style barely flinched when he said all elements of the Canadian Forces need to be revamped, including the part where "you go out and bayonet somebody."
"We are not the Public Service of Canada," he declared. "We are not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces and our job is to be able to kill people."
The terrorist bombings in London underscore the need to take the fight to the enemy in failed states where they have room to thrive, said Hillier.
As a Western society that values rights and freedoms, Canada is already in conflict with "what people like Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and those others want."
"These are detestable murderers and scumbags," Hillier said. "They detest our freedoms, they detest our society, they detest our liberties."
It's time for Canada to take a stand, he said, just as it did 66 years ago when it joined the Second World War against the Nazis, whom he described as "those despicable, murderous bastards."
The Polaris Institute, a left-leaning think tank based in Ottawa, said Friday the defence minister needs to "clarify" Hillier's "very alarming" comments.
"His use of epithets such as 'scumbags' and 'killers' is reminiscent of language used by (U.S.) President (George W.) Bush and U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld," said project director Steven Staples.
Taken alongside recent defence policy changes and an increase in the defence budget, Staples said they "show an unmistakable trend toward the Americanization of the Canadian Forces."
Jurgutis noted that Canada was already listed as a terrorist target and he doubted Hillier's comments would change matters.
Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden declared Canada a "legitimate target" in March 2004.
Adrian Gordon, executive director of the Centre for Emergency Preparedness, gave a qualified endorsement of Hillier's blunt talk.
"Part of me agrees with that, part of me says that's true," Gordon said in an interview from Burlington, Ont.
"But at the same time, if we're really going to deal with this problem and have a hope of putting an end to terrorism, then we have to work towards understanding the root causes, which go much deeper than current events in Iraq and Afghanistan."
When all the Canadians liberals finish ganging up on this guy , I dont think he will last long. Too bad. he sounds like he could get the job done. Sorry he doesnt have a strong capable force to command.
...then there's something worryingly, fundamentally wrong with Canadians.
I sincerely hope that Hillier's calling terrorists "detestable murderers and scumbags" did not offend the Liberal sensibilities of too many Canadians. There are so many nuanced explanations that could be offered for their actions. Perhaps the women and children they blow up (forget about the men)had in some way offended them and had failed to apologize in the proper ritual fashion. Perhaps they were just having a bad day (it can happen to anybody) and decided to blow something up to relieve the stress. Indeed, let's be careful about using such a loaded term as terrorist, and wow! scumbags.
The man sounds just like the just retired Australian Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove.
I wish him luck fighting all the damn lefties in Canada.
Those that were "shocked" are exactly who Rove was talking about.
I happen to be a Canadian who is a naturalized US citizen. It is very rare to see anything coming out of the Canadian Military that isn't a crock of Lefty doublespeak. Remeber that is the 1970's the entire military in Canada underwent a "revolutionary" change on how its soldiers were promoted. Bilingualism in French/English was made more important than soldiering skills. This turned Canada's small armed forces into a civil service who occasionally had to carry rifles. Many Anglophones bitterly left the service.The French element became more significant in the forces, and many of us know what that can mean in terms of French culture and the military. France has shown us this
of late, althopugh there have been good, loyal brave French soldiers in Canadas opast, there also have been nightmares.
General Rick Hillier is a modern day Canadian "Chesty Puller." The problem is that Canadas politicians rule him, and my prediction is that they will ruin this good soldier, crumpling him and tossing him aside like a piece of used tissue, once they have established a " lets be tuff on terror hollow posture." He should come to the US and join up with S.O.G. or Team Force Delta. They could use a Newfoundlander who can speak farsi
( now there's a scary image, hey?).
Thats because these guys get it you "scumbag" "killer enabler".
Get a life. Or go to Picadilly and wait a while. Take the underground.
Rick Hillier is "right on" and its time that you whimpy leftest Canucks started earning what freedoms you have left, which are not many these days... if you see the socialist evolution of Canadian Law since 1970. ......so many controls! Its no wonder you don't want to fight Terrorism, you have very few freedoms left compared to most of the "free world." Lets see: 100% gun control, 17 % Sales Taxes,a failing health care system, postal workers that strike bi-annually on July 1st, 30% of GNP dedicated to printing cereal boxes in two languages,a political patronage system that maintains regional unemployment of 25%, over 50% of the filled jobs in the province of Quebec are eithercivil service jobs or crown corporation jobs paid for maostly by taxes or monopolistic public charges, crooked politicians who continually get away with it.No, we understand why Canadians do not want to face the truth about "scumbags". Your government is full of them ( you elected them) and so is your civil service.
We are not surprised Canadians are whimpy. Thats why Rick Hillier is so special.
GO RICK , me son, deres naw grief in yer tellin ! When dey foinally gets ya, head South me son, head South!
......from a Canadian ex pat, who got out when the gettin' was good.
Ping for the good general.
"We are not the Public Service of Canada," he declared. "We are not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces and our job is to be able to kill people."
Sounds like they got the right guy for the job, but maybe its the wrong country. Canada may have become too liberal to have a "Soldier's soldier" as Chief of its Armed Forces. Wouldn't be surprised to see this guy courtmarshaled or forced out, even if its for using harsh language.
Malesherbes' comment...I'm assuming sarcasm.
*crosses fingers*
its ugly truth.
They could use a Newfoundlander who can speak farsi"
ahahahahah - Their form of English could pass!
Is it too early in the morning for me to begin my snoopy-like happy dance?
Coffee and a reread first - this is TOO good to be true.
"detestable murderers and scumbags" ... Hmmmmm ... sounds crystal clear to me.
You are a bit too literal minded to detect sarcasm when you see it. Aside from calling me a Canuck (I am born and bred in the USA), I agree with everything else you say. I was attempting to parody the usual left-wing ("Liberal" in Canada) drivel that they spout when they try to analyze things. Obviously I failed to make my point.
ff, thanks for the ping.
SV, Ping. Longer artical.
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